RAILWAY WATERFRONT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1915, Page 8

RAILWAY WATERFRONT.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l hope (that whatever is done in the way of a railway outlet, we shall not have another railway tunnel inflicted on us. Thirty years' experience of the Parnell tunnel ought to be enough for anyone. I fear, as the Mayor says, there is no workable alternative to Mr. Hiley's waterfront scheme. 1 have looked at the new plans, and, I think, if Mr. Pearson is allowed to handle Campbell's Point after the end of it is removed, it will be made a great deal more beautiful than it is at present.—l am, etc., REMUERA. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Your correspondent "Ex-Council-lor" accuses the Mayor of being disloyal •to the city in connection with the waterfront railway. This is not only incorrect, but it is grossly unfair tp Mr. Parr. The Mayor and Council had to decide whether the opposition of a few Parnell residents at Judge's Bay is to override the interests of the whole of the city. The present railway accommodation is "a disgrace, and now when the Government brings forward plans for a new railway and goods station, and for a new outlet, avoiding alike the Parnell tunnel and the steep and awkward Remuera grade, we find that half-a-dozen wealthy gentlemen—whose yachts will be interfered with—make no end of a fuss. The City Council believe in the greatest good for the greatest number, and we are not going to block the spending of two millions of Government money. I can testify that the Mayor for' months has been discussing with engineers and the railway people the question of a tunnel, but it was found quite impracticable, and there was therefore nothing for it but to get the best terms. In my opinion Mr. Parr succeeded in getting most valuable benefits from the Government for the people of Parnell. In the end they will have nearly 30 acres of splendid open playing space'for all manner of field sports, in Judge's Bay with a shore-front road to the dead "end of I arnell. Other parts of the city would be glad to have this chance.—l am, etc., CITY COCSCILLOR. ' (To the Editor.) Sir,—Mr. Parr's defence of the present proposed scheme of vandalism in connection with the new railway outlet as contained in the report of your representative's interview with him, is about as weak as it could possibly be, though as an egotistical effort it is certainly strong enough. Throughout the Mayor's statement he does not deduce one single tittle of evidence proving that Mr. Metcalfe's scheme is impracticable. "1 went very fully into the question of whether there was another wav out." Again, "I say. advisedly, that Mr Metcalfe's scheme is quite useless," and finally as a finishing touch, which surely must end the matter for all time. "So much for the tunnel alternative, which I have shown to be quite impossible." Surely these mere assertions on the Mayors part will not be accepted, unsupported, as they apparently are. by any expert evidence of any description. Surely the enormous interests involved are sufficient for the public to absolutely demand that Mr. Parr's opinion unsupported by any technical or practical knowledge on his part as to what are or arc not engineering possibilities shall not be accepted in preference to a positive assertion from one of our most reliable engineers that the alternative scheme is feasible. It is the bounden duty'of the Mayor and Council to thoroughly satisfy trie public .by actual expert evidence that the alternative scheme supported by Mr Metcalfe is not feasible, and until this is done they have no right to sacrifice the splendid birthright which the" city possesses in the unrivalled beauty of its harbour and headlands. As regards the destruction of the scenic beauty of onr harbour by the present scheme, no one who has carefully read the proposal can have any doubt, and surely, of all the "exaggerated nonsense" Mr. Parr complains about, the limit in this respect is contained in his statement in reference to Judge's Bay, "that the beach will not he spoiled." and "that the water will flow in and out as at present."—T am, etc., HERBERT. G. MILBURN. ;. : 'r"i